The lawmaker representing Edo North, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, on Sunday, rose to the defence of President Bola Tinubu, saying he wasn’t the first leader to secure a loan in the country’s history.

Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor, further emphasised that borrowing for capital projects such as infrastructure is a healthy global practice.

According to him, every past president from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) had at one point approached the international community for loans and aid.

He made the clarification when he was featured as a guest on Sunday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.

His concerns come barely one month after the President sought the National Assembly’s approval to secure external loans of $21.5 million and ¥15 billion, along with a grant of €65 million, as part of his government’s proposed 2025–2026 external borrowing plan.

Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary on May 27.

The letter also included a summary of the funding breakdown, but the content was not made public.

Oshiomhole, however, insisted that there was nothing wrong with the National Assembly approving such loans since every country needs them for developmental projects.

He said, “Once the purpose of borrowing is clear and acceptable, it is patriotic to approve of it. Because this is not the first president to borrow. I would challenge you to name any Nigerian president, from Olusegun Obasanjo to Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, though I’m not too sure about that because he didn’t live enough.

“But Jonathan and Buhari did borrow. Even America is borrowing. The current bill in the United States is going to push US deficit to about31 to $36trn.

“You name the country that doesn’t borrow. For me, borrowing for the right purpose like infrastructure is very healthy.”

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the free distribution of petrol and diesel to marketers, dealers, and other large users across the country.

In a statement on Sunday, the Lagos-based refinery said the initiative would commence on August 15, 2025.

The refinery also said it has procured 4,000 brand-new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tankers for take-off of the initiative.

“In addition, the refinery will offer a credit facility to those purchasing a minimum of 500,000 litres—allowing them to obtain an additional 500,000 litres on credit for two weeks, under bank guarantee,” the statement read.

The Dangote Refinery was commissioned in May 2023.

The refinery said it has also invested in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations, commonly referred to as daughter booster stations, supported by a fleet of over 100 CNG tankers across the country to ensure seamless product distribution.

“This strategic programme is part of our broader commitment to eliminating logistics costs, enhancing energy efficiency, promoting sustainability and supporting Nigeria’s economic development.

“It is expected to revitalise previously inactive petrol stations, thereby driving job creation, stimulating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), increasing government revenue, improving fuel access in rural and underserved communities, and strengthening investor confidence in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

“This pioneering effort marks a major milestone in our vision to revolutionise Nigeria’s energy sector.

“Dangote Refinery is dedicated to ensuring that no place is left behind. Our goal is to provide equitable access to affordable fuel for all Nigerians, regardless of location, making energy more accessible and sustainable for everyone, wherever they may be,” the refinery stated.

President Bola Tinubu has directed security chiefs to implement his earlier directive to bring lasting peace and security to Benue State, his spokesman Bayo Onanuga has said.

In a statement, Onanuga said the President renewed his order in the wake of the latest round of reprisal attacks that led to the death of many people.

Governor Hyacinth Alia on Sunday confirmed the killing of 59 persons at Yelewata, where suspected herdsmen from Nasarawa State attacked the border town.

Addressing journalists at the Government House, Alia said the figures are based on physical headcounts by security agencies working with families of those killed.

In his reaction, Tinubu charged the governor with convening reconciliation meetings and dialogue among the warring parties to end the incessant bloodshed and bring lasting peace and harmonious coexistence between farmers, herders, and communities.

“On the president’s directive, intelligence chiefs, the police and the military have arrived in the state to direct security operations and restore sanity,” Onanuga said.

Describing the killings and bloodletting as inhuman and anti-progress, Tinubu called on political leaders and community leaders in conflict areas to stop fuelling the crisis through unguarded utterances and statements that could further inflame tensions.


“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough.

“I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.

“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.

“This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue. Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness and justice,” the President was quoted as saying.